[EBB Sightings] The thrasher beak

Dear Birders:

Reading Maury Stern's comments about how the thrasher (especially that beak) got him started on bird watcher.  This begs a question:  I've read that they use their beak to "sweep" off leaf litter in search of food and even use it as a tool to probe for edibles, but why the deep curve?  I've also read that thrashesr often climb up into brush.  Is it possible that the curved beak is used like a hook to pull themselves up?

-Phila Rogers